Instructors Corner
SELECTION vs TRAINING
This year, we’re delivering intel-packed briefings designed to strengthen your knowledge base, expand training resources, stabilize tactical units, and ensure operational readiness.
Each briefing provides actionable strategies for:
- Team Structure & Leadership
- Selection & Training Standards & Protocols
- Training Programs & Performance Metrics
- Operational Readiness & Resilience
Your first mission begins at ground zero—selection vs training, critical steps for building or revamping a tactical team.
Part 1 Focus: Selection vs Training
- Selection vs Training: Why It Matters
- Building a Solid Team Through Proper Selection, Training, Standards & Protocols
Own the mission—gain the training intel and tactical advantage you need today!
SELECTION VS TRAINING
There is a persistent misconception when it comes to Selection vs Training in tactical and law enforcement environments. While both are essential, they serve distinct purposes and should never be blended into one process. Over the years, I’ve observed instructors mix the two, resulting in training that was either “fun” or “hard”— but ultimately failed to deliver meaningful learning, cover essential objectives or provide accurate assessments.
This is often the case in many Basic SWAT courses today. To determine whether or not this applies and if you need to re-evaluate where your team is, you first must ask yourself “What is the purpose of a Basic SWAT course?”
Is the purpose of a Basic SWAT class to select the right people? Or is it to train the ones that have already been chosen for a specific role on the team or task to perform? This is where knowing the difference between selection & training comes into play.
Let’s take a look at a break down of the differences between the two:
- Selection = Choosing the right person
- Training = Preparing that person to perform and maintain the standard
SELECTION
Choosing the right person for a specific role on the team
A proper selection process identifies individuals who already possess the required attributes or potential for a role. It is about assessment, not instruction.
Selection should:
- Evaluate candidates through physical fitness, practical applications, decision-making scenarios, and psychological assessments
- Apply baseline standards for each assessment to ensure consistency and fairness
- Filter out those who are not ready or do not meet the standards
The selection process ensures the right person is placed in the right role. Without this step, you risk assigning individuals to a role who aren’t prepared and ultimately cannot meet or maintain operational standards.
When we choose the right people through proper selection and then invest in their growth through structured training, we build teams that are capable, confident, and ready for the mission. Anything less is a gamble with safety and success.
TRAINING
Preparing that person after selection for their role while upholding & maintaining standards
Training begins after selection and mainly focuses on developing skills, knowledge, and behaviors required for success. This is where you help prepare chosen individuals to perform their roles effectively while upholding standards over time. The overall purpose of training is improvement and growth, not evaluation.
Training should:
- Teach fundamentals and advanced techniques in a productive learning environment
- Close performance gaps and enhance capabilities
- Build confidence and maintain readiness through ongoing development
TAKEAWAY
Selection vs training, each has its place but also complement & build off of each other. Selection ensures you start with the right people, training ensures they stay sharp and evolve. Both rely on clear, enforceable standards—selection enforces entry standards, training reinforces and builds upon these standards ensuring operational readiness. When each is utilized properly, a strong foundation is established with a clear path for building stable, mission-ready teams.
If we fail to distinguish between selection vs training, we greatly compromise both processes. Mixing them only creates confusion, affects individual and team confidence, erodes standards, negates protocols and ultimately diminishes overall operational effectiveness.
By choosing the right people utilizing proper selection processes and investing in their growth through quality structured training, we build solid teams that are capable, confident, and ready for the mission. Anything less is a gamble with safety and overall operational success!
Stay tuned for the next article in this series where we dive deeper into setting proper standards, role selection, training frequency, fitness and more!
Until then…